DVD in a Nutshell:
DVD-ROM: Reads DVD discs
DVD+R: Writes to DVD+R media (will also typically write to CD-R and CD-RW media)
DVD+RW: Writes to DVD+RW media (will also typically write to DVD+R, CD-R and CD-RW media)
DVD+R DL: Writes to DVD+R DL (Double Layer) media (will also typically write to DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R and CD-RW media; many Double Layer drives are ALSO dual drives that is, able to write to BOTH +R/RW and R/RW media)
DVD-RAM: Writes to DVD-RAM cartridges (not in wide use on consumer market mainly a business format; can also read PD-RW discs. Will not usually be able to write to any other format including CD-R or CD-RW)
DVD-R: Writes to DVD-R media (will also typically write to CD-R and CD-RW media)
DVD-RW: Writes to DVD-RW media (will also typically write to DVD-R, CD-R and CD-RW media)
DVD-/+RW: Writes to DVD-RW and DVD+RW media (will also typically write to DVD-R, DVD+R, CD-R and CD-RW media; typically called �Dual Drives� since it can burn to two different DVD formats)"
Thanks to the good folks at BigBruin.com and Geeks.com
